How to Quest

Quest clues and maps—created by 

teachers, volunteers, and/or park 

staff—will help you discover the 

natural and cultural gems of the 

Ohio & Erie Canalway. At the end 

of each quest is a hidden treasure 

box. Sign your name in the logbook, 

stamp this page, and return the box 

to its hiding place.

The questing season runs from 

April 15 through November 15.

Notice a problem or have 

suggestions for improving this 

quest? Contact Arrye Rosser at 

440-546-5992 or arrye_rosser@nps.gov.

About This Program

I’m Arrye Rosser, interpretive and education specialist at Cuyahoga 

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dream of bringing questing to Ohio. This project was made possible 

by the generous support of a 2010 Parks as Classrooms grant from the 

National Park Service and is a partnership between many organizations.

So far, more than 100 teachers, volunteers, and park staff have been 

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create many more in the years ahead. If you would like to volunteer, 

contact me at 440-546-5992 or arrye_rosser@nps.gov.

Special thanks to Emily Bryant and Steven Glazer.

The Ohio & Erie Canalway celebrates the rails, trails, landscapes, 

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that helped Ohio and our nation grow. 

For more information and to get copies of other quests, visit 

ohioanderiecanalway.com and search under Activities for Questing.

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Canalway Quest

Boston’s Foundations Quest

Take an easy walk to investigate the village of 

Boston, past and present.

STAMP HERE 

This quest was created by participants in the Canalway Questing 

Workshop, March 2010. 

 revision date SEPT 2014

9. Opposite the sign, see the “red eyes”;

Walk toward them and the northern sky.

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Now off to the station we shall go.

Here native people used to stay,

But times changed, to their dismay.

Take your time to read the signs

And you will learn about past times.

10. From the station where bags once were tossing,

Turn back and head to the railroad crossing.

Left onto the bridge and gaze at waters chill.

See the low dam that held back water for the mill? 

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Looking for foundation blocks of the old mill wall.

The dam fed water to the mighty mill wheel.

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Who would believe that later, after many a day,

The place made clay marbles so children could play?

11. Rush away from the water toward the evergreen tree.

There’s a small white building—can you see?

Continue toward Grandma’s Watering Hole,

Where the old-timers once ate after a stroll.

This building has had many names, two less than six.

Today’s owners added Trail into the Mix.

Sashay left and down the drive beyond the store’s rear.

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Below the garage gutter hangs something white.

Open the lid. Instead of mail, a prize is in sight!

Secretively sign the logbook and make a stamp.

Hide everything back in place before you decamp.

Your quest is complete. Stop in at the store.

Grab something to eat ... and come back for more!

Clues Continued...

SUMMIT COUNTY SECTION

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BOSTON STORE VISITOR CENTER

RAIL ROAD

CROSSING
With the river to your backs,

Return to Boston Store, make tracks!

With the store on your left, cross the road in view—

Straight ahead to Lock 32!

On your way to the lock, the towpath you’re hiking.

Stay to the right—watch for people jogging and biking.

Carefully look down into the old canal bed on your right.

Picture boats and their lively crews passing through this site.

The lock you’ve found at this destination 

Is the key to Boston—and your second foundation.

4. Climb up stairs on your right. Peer down into the lock.

Stop and dream for a while, then onward walk.

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Thirty-one locks up to Akron’s high land.

An elevator for water is a lock’s function.

They dropped the canal 300 feet between Akron and Boston.

At a lock, boats and people for water did wait,

So the town of Boston grew at an amazing rate!

5. Once over the bridge, continue to walk.

At the next foundation we’ll stop and talk.

Follow the grassy path left until you spy

A rock wall with four metal poles pointing up to the sky.

Glad you stopped here to see the weir.* 

Water is long gone, so pause without fear.

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When too much volume poured forth,

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And into the spillway—preventing a shock!

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6. Follow the path up over the slight rise.

Pause before the second brown post, we advise.

Stay on the right path, no “horsing” around.

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Up ahead, a brown sign in the grass—can you see?

It stands in the spot of the old canal boat factory.

From this tree to the sign, one canal boat could sit.

Close your eyes, open your mind—can you imagine it?

Many hands worked with wood, nails, and pitch

To fashion the boats that would travel the ditch.

7. Keep to the south and walk the line

Between your nose and the green street sign.

Right of the sign, look for stone blocks in the ground.

The blacksmith’s shop foundation you have found.

Boat builders, of course, always needed tools,

And canal boats were pulled by horses and mules.

And horses wore footwear just like you,

But needed the blacksmith to make their shoes.

He also made nails, hinges, and the boat builders’ tools.

A town without a blacksmith was a town of fools.

8. Follow your guide—the yellow neon sign—

To safely cross between white lines.

“Go west, young man” (past some gas)

And cross the bridge—the “Great Seal” at last.

The river near and far is found,

Carving gorges through the region’s ground.

Water bridging spans of time

Feeds and powers and draws a line.*

*The treaty of Greenville (1795) established the Cuyahoga River as 

the northwest boundary of the United States. West of here was 

referred to as “Indian Territory.” 

Planning Ahead

This treasure hunt takes about 45 minutes. There are both paved and 

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This area can be congested on weekends. Be alert for cars and 

cyclists. You will need a pen or pencil to sign the logbook. Some 

people prefer using their own signature stamp and ink pad or marker.

Getting There

Start at the Boston Store Visitor Center, 1550 Boston Mills Road, 

east of Riverview Road, Peninsula, Ohio 44264. Additional 

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Visitor Center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; hours may 

be extended seasonally. 

Clues

How to quest! 

The clues in italics tell you where to be;

Clues in plain type explain what you see!

1. Inside Boston Store is where you now are.

Find what moved things before there were cars.

Have you found a canal boat’s stern? 

There are tools to see and history to learn! 

2. Travel south out the door to a kiosk with sides of three.

With your back to one side, a brown shed you’ll see. 

What’s supporting the wood, holding the shed strong?

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3. Curve to the right on the asphalt sliver.

Follow the towpath right to the mighty river.

Gaze upon our crooked river;

Cuyahoga is the name they give her.

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Find its dry ditch on your left. 

Note how closely their courses wind,

River and canal intertwined.